The World Drone Sports Federation (WDSF, President Woo Hyun-ho) successfully promoted the ‘WDSF Cup World Drone Sports Championship,’ scheduled to be held in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, from August 1 to 2, at the 2026 UASE International Exhibition of Low Altitude Economy & Unmanned Systems, held in Shenzhen, China, from May 21 to 23.

2026 UASE is an international exhibition that shares the latest technologies and market trends in the global unmanned systems industry, including low-altitude economy, unmanned aerial systems, drone platforms, eVTOLs, aviation infrastructure, and drone application services. It is a specialized expo attended by drone industry stakeholders and organizations from around the world.

Through its participation in this exhibition, the World Drone Sports Federation engaged with various organizations and drone industry stakeholders, including those in Hangzhou, China, and announced the direction of the Chungbuk-type K-Drone Sports Global Project. In particular, the organization focused on promoting a model that expands drones beyond simple piloting skills or industrial equipment into new future-oriented content combined with sports, education, tourism, and the local economy. Drone sports officials from Indonesia, Russia, and various provinces in China visited the exhibition to discuss international collaboration strategies and potential entry into the Chinese market with the World Drone Sports Federation. They showed interest in the Korean-style drone sports competition model, operational system, and direction for promoting international tournaments, and exchanged views on expanding mutual exchange and cooperation in the field of drone sports in the future.

In addition, Dong Joong-young, President of the Korea Security Federation, and his executives also visited the exhibition to express their support for raising the international standing of Korean drone sports. President Dong assessed that drone sports have great potential to be linked with future security, safety, education, and industrial sectors, and agreed to continue mutual exchanges in the drone field with the World Drone Sports Federation.

Furthermore, Team Leader Kim OO from Chungcheongbuk-do, who is in charge of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's demonstration project, also participated to introduce Chungcheongbuk-do's drone industry infrastructure, regional conditions, and capabilities to host international drone sports competitions, including drone basketball developed in Korea. Through this, the potential for Chungcheongbuk-do to grow into a hub for international drone sports exchange and the demonstration of the low-altitude economy was actively communicated to overseas officials.

The 2026 WDSF Cup World Drone Sports Championship in Korea will be held in conjunction with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's selection of Korea as a Drone Demonstration City in the drone sports sector for 2026. The competition is hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Chungcheongbuk-do Province, organized by the World Drone Sports Federation, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju University, Drone Division Co., Ltd., Skybot Co., Ltd., and the Korea Unmanned Aircraft Safety Federation, and sponsored by News Chungbuk, Cheongju J-One Hotel, The Zone Tour, and Prowise Co., Ltd.

The venue is scheduled to be the Cheongju Gymnasium and the Cheongju Sports Complex. Major events include drone basketball, indoor amateur drone racing, and drone weightlifting, conducted by the World Drone Sports Federation, while the Korea Model Aviation Federation plans to conduct the professional drone racing event. Drone basketball is a discipline for which the rules and platform were developed by Korea’s Drone Division Co., Ltd. and the World Drone Sports Federation. It is a 3-on-3 competition played over three 2-minute quarters, featuring offense and defense using a drone ball equipped with a guard. This sport is garnering attention as a new form of drone sport that demands not only drone piloting skills but also team tactics, agility, and spatial judgment.

Indoor amateur drone racing focuses on expanding the base of drone sports by applying indoor courses and regulations based on difficulty levels to ensure safe participation for beginners, students, and general participants. Professional drone racing is operated as a specialized competition testing high-speed flight, obstacle course navigation, and precision piloting skills. Drone weightlifting consists of a competition where participants build a drone with a maximum takeoff weight of 24 kg and fly it at an altitude of 5 meters for 3 minutes. By reducing the weight of the drone and competing to see who can lift the most payload, the event tests the drone's propulsion, stability, and technology-driven load-carrying capacity. Woo Hyun-ho, President of the World Drone Sports Federation, stated, “Participating in the UASE Shenzhen exhibition was a significant opportunity to promote Korean drone sports to the world and to develop the 2026 WDSF World Drone Sports Championship, to be held in Cheongju, into an international event.” He added, “We will cooperate with overseas organizations, including those in China, as well as drone-related companies and local businesses, to expand the Chungbuk-style K-Drone Sports model into a global project.”

Furthermore, the Federation is preparing to collaborate with drone-related companies, local businesses, educational institutions, and the hotel and tourism sectors, using this event as a springboard. Through this, the plan is to evolve the event beyond mere competition management into a comprehensive international drone sports festival that combines drone sports experiences, educational programs, industrial exhibitions, and local tourism.

The 2026 WDSF World Drone Sports Championship is garnering anticipation as an event held in Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea, that simultaneously promotes the international standardization and popularization of drone sports and the revitalization of local industries. Countries and organizations wishing to participate should send an email expressing their intention to participate to wdsf9116@naver.com.

Chungcheongbuk-do and the World Drone Sports Federation will review the request and provide a response regarding necessary matters.

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